Do You Remember These TV Catchphrases of the '50s and '60s?

By: J. Reinoehl
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Do You Remember These TV Catchphrases of the '50s and '60s?
Image: YouTube

About This Quiz

Television shows from the ‘50s and ‘60s aren’t called classics for nothing. They had classic style, classic charm, and classic catchphrases worth repeating. Do you know these catchphrases from shows that ran during the ‘50s and ‘60s? Find out by taking this quiz.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "All we want are the facts, ma’am”?
The Cisco Kid.
Dragnet.
“This is the city: Los Angeles. I work here. I’m a cop.” – Sgt. Joe Friday, Dragnet (1951-1959)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
The Untouchables.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Warning, Will Robinson”?
I’ve Got a Secret.
Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C.
Lost in Space.
The spacecraft for "Lost in Space" cost more than building the Starship Enterprise. The final bill was $350,000 (now $2.6 million) but unlike the Enterprise, the audience got to see all the rooms of the Jupiter 2.
Adam-12.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "To the moon, Alice”?
The Honeymooners.
“I forgot that you’re a woman? How could I? You’re always yapping.” – Ralph Kramden, The Honeymooners (1955-1956)
The Howdy Doody Show.
The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Leave It to Beaver.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Beam us up, Scotty”?
Bewitched.
The Avengers.
Star Trek.
The original "Star Trek" competed against "Lost in Space" for two years, and actually received poorer ratings. This may be because "Star Trek" targeted an older audience.
Dr. Who.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "I’d like to do a short pantomime now…”?
Candid Camera.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Have Gun, Will Travel.
The Red Skelton Show.
“…I mean how do you spell Kadiddlehopper?” “Wrong every time.” – L. W. Treadway (Dean Martin) and Clem Kadiddlehopper (Red Skelton), The Red Skelton Show (1951-1971)
Finish the catchphrase from "Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In": "_________ it to me.”
“…Sell.”
“…Tell.”
“…Give.”
“…Sock.”
Lorne Michaels was a writer for "Laugh-In." He later went on to write for "Saturday Night Live."

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "[Title character], you got some ‘splainin’ to do”?
The Patty Duke Show.
The Donna Reed Show.
I Love Lucy.
“How do you spell ‘sperience?” “E-x-p—“ “E-x-? You’re kidding.” – Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, I Love Lucy (1951-1957)
Amos and Andy.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Book ‘em, Danno”?
Hawaii Five-O.
The Ventures covered the theme song for "Hawaii Five-0," and it made it to #4 on the charts.
The Cisco Kid.
The Untouchables.
The Avengers.
Finish the catchphrase from "The Andy Griffith Show": "Nip it in the _________
"…Rear end."
"…Beginning."
"…Can."
"…Bud."
“I couldn’t give him the [sobriety] test last night… He was too drunk.” -- Barney Fife, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Come on down”?
Candid Camera.
The Price Is Right.
"The Price Is Right" is the longest running game show in television history. Currently in its 46th season, it has given away over $250 million in cash and prizes.
I’ve Got a Secret.
Match Game.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "[Title character] your mother and I are very disappointed in you”?
Leave It to Beaver.
“Do you think all parents have this much trouble?” “No, just parents with children.” – June and Ward Cleaver, Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963)
The Donna Reed Show.
Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C.
The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Good night and good luck”?
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
See It Now.
Edward R. Murrow became famous reporting on World War II. Since he had been working with Fred Friendly on the radio show, "Hear It Now," when he was approached to do a weekly television program, they called it "See It Now."
Name that Tune.
Password.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "I know nothing”?
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
The Avengers.
Wild Wild West.
Hogan’s Heroes.
[answering the phone using a fake German accent] “I’m sorry; you’ve got the wrong number. [pause] So what if you haven’t told me who you’re calling, yet? No matter who you’re calling, it’s still the wrong number because I don’t even have a phone!” – Carter, Hogan’s Heroes (1965-1971)
Finish the catchphrase from Get Smart: “Missed it by __________
"…Your nose."
"…A mile."
"…That much."
The network wanted Mel Brooks to write a dog into the show and so Agent K-13 was added, but he wasn’t your typical fluffy pet. The dog was so difficult and costly to work with they wrote him out in the second season.
"…One minute."
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "To the Batcave”?
The Avengers.
Batman.
“That orange color. Doesn’t that mean uranium?” “Right on the nose, Robin." – Robin and Batman, Batman (1966-1968)
The Untouchables.
Have Gun, Will Travel.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "How sweet it is”?
Have Gun, Will Travel.
Candid Camera.
I’ve Got a Secret.
The Jackie Gleason Show.
"The Jackie Gleason Show" originally ran a skit of "The Honeymooners." When they turned "The Honeymooners" into a series, actress Pert Kelton (who had played Alice) was dropped because she had been found guilty of communism by association with her husband.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Mom always liked you best”?
The Donna Reed Show.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
“But what could the president do to make people want to stay in this country?” “Well, he could quit.” – Dick and Tom Smothers, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1970)
Wild Wild West.
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Say goodnight, [title character]”?
The Cisco Kid.
The Dick Van Dyke Show.
The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis.
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" began on the radio. It was among only a handful of shows to successfully transition to television.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Yabba dabba doo”?
Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C.
The Flintstones.
"Sometimes I just don’t know what’s the matter with men.” “That’s easy—you women!” – Betty and Barney Rubble, The Flintstones (1960-1966)
Popeye.
The Jetsons.
Finish the catchphrase from "The Ed Sullivan Show": "We’ve got a _________
“…Spectacular show.”
“…Really big show.”
Although many talk show hosts are known for their charming personalities, Ed Sullivan was just the opposite. He warmed his way into America’s heart from 1948-1971 as an awkward host notorious for not smiling and bungling introductions and monologues.
“…Fantastic show.”
“…Amazing show.”
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "You rang?”
The Addams Family.
“The L stands for Lucifer.” “Very appropriate for a politician.” – Gomez and Morticia Addams, The Addams' Family (1964-1966)
Bewitched.
I’ve Got a Secret.
The Brady Bunch.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Wunnerful, wunnerful”?
The Untouchables.
Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C.
The Lawrence Welk Show.
"The Lawrence Welk Show" was one of many to suffer from the purge that occurred at the beginning of the 1970s. The FCC had implemented a rule that forced companies to use one hour of local programming during prime time. The big name studios gave up this hour by eliminating popular shows that appealed to older adults in favor of shows that targeted a younger audience.
Bozo’s Circus.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Silver, away”?
Wild Wild West.
The Lone Ranger.
“Only you, Tonto, know I’m alive. To the world, I’ll be buried here beside my brother and my friends… forever.” – The Lone Ranger (1949-1957)
Gunsmoke.
F Troop.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Here’s Johnny”?
The Tonight Show.
Bob Hope appeared more times on "The Tonight Show" in the ‘70s and ‘80s than anyone else. However, Richard Zoglin (author of Hope: Entertainer of the Century) reports that Carson frequently grew tired of Hope, who could book a spot on the show whenever he wanted, who only used scripted jokes and did not interact well, and who frequently brought in highlight clips that were longer than what they normally used.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
The Carol Burnett Show.
The Mod Squad.

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Finish the catchphrase from The Adventures of Superman: "Don’t call me _________
"…Shirley."
"…Superman."
"…Frankly."
"…Chief."
“This is a job for Superman… I mean I’ve got to go find him!” – Clark Kent, The Adventures of Superman (1952-1958)
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "What’s up, Doc?”
The Bugs Bunny Show.
A rumor circulated for years that Mel Blanc (who did Bugs Bunny’s voice) was allergic to carrots and would spit them out during recording. Blanc gave the real reason for spitting out the carrots in his autobiography when he explained that he would have had to take a break from recording if he had finished chewing and swallowed them.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
The Cisco Kid.
Wild Wild West.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Yes, Master”?
The Dick Van Dyke Show.
I Dream of Jeannie.
“How are things going?” “Terrible. I have to make dinner—I mean actually make it without magic. We are liable to die.” – Jeannie, I Dream of Jeannie
Bewitched.
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Jeepers, Mr. Wilson”?
Father Knows Best.
Captain Kangaroo.
Dennis the Menace.
"Dennis the Menace" was based on Hank Ketcham’s son, Dennis. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, Dennis and Hank had an estranged relationship for most of their lives.
Bonanza.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Oh, goody”?
The Untouchables.
F Troop.
The Munsters.
“Herman tried to build a ship inside a bottle. We had to break the bottle to get him out.” – Lily Munster, the Munsters (1964-1966)
I’ve Got a Secret.
Finish the catchphrase from "Mission: Impossible": "This tape will self-destruct in _________
One minute.
Thirty seconds.
Ten seconds.
Five seconds.
All the place names were modified so they were not real. Although the show took place in locations around the world, they never filmed outside of the greater Los Angeles area.

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "I gotta kill that boy…”?
The Avengers.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
“I’m happy because I’ve just fallen in love an hour ago. This is the happiest part of a love affair, just after falling in love and just before the problem of money comes up.” – Dobie Gillis, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1963)
Father Knows Best.
The Cisco Kid.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "It’s just like my Aunt Agnes used to say…”?
Candid Camera.
Have Gun, Will Travel.
The Dick Van Dyke Show.
The story is similar to Carl Reiner’s life at the time: He was a comedy writer living in New Rochelle with his wife and child. He worked with Mel Brooks (a joke writer) and Selma Diamond (a woman in search of a man).
The Donna Reed Show.
On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Surprise, surprise, surprise”?
Wild Wild West.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
F Troop.
Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C.
“Pyle! My old grandmother could do better than that.” “Well, bless her heart.” – Sgt. Carter and Gomer Pyle, Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C. (1964-1969)

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On which show could you hear the catchphrase, "Say, kids, what time is it?”
Captain Kangaroo.
The Howdy Doody Show.
The word “kow-a-bong-a” was first invented on "The Howdy Doody Show." Chief Thunderthud stated it as a nonsense word, but it became a part of popular culture and is now spelled “cowabunga.”
The Mickey Mouse Club.
Bozo’s Circus.
Finish the catchphrase from "McHale’s Navy": "I could just _________
"…Scream."
“What happened? Did somebody spike your corn flakes?” – Capt. Binghamton, McHale’s Army (1962-1966)
"…Take a message."
"…Kiss you."
"…Gag."
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